The United Nations says Nigeria lost an estimated 2.8 billion dollars in revenues in 2018, primarily due to oil-related crimes.
According to report, which covered from 1st of July 2018 to 31st of December 2018 said “Maritime crime and piracy off the coast of West Africa continued to pose a threat to peace, security and development in the region?
“Oil-related crimes resulted in the loss of nearly 2.8 billion dollars in revenues last year in Nigeria, according to government figures.
“Between January 1 and November 23, there were 82 reported incidents of maritime crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.’’
This is according to a new ‘Report by the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel’ on Monday in New York.
The report also stated that contrast to the situation revealed in the previous report, drug trafficking was in increase in West Africa and the Sahel.
The report said “In Benin, the Gambia and Nigeria, more than 50 kilogrammes of cocaine were seized between July and October by joint airport interdiction task forces.
“During the same period, joint airport interdiction task forces seized more than six kilogrammes of methamphetamines, eight kilogrammes of heroin (double the amount in the first half of 2018) and 2.6 tonnes of cannabis.
“Drug production across the region was also reportedly on the rise, with more than 100 kilogrammes of ephedrine and Phenacetine seized by competent authorities.’’
During the reporting period, it stated that farmers and herders clash led to loss of lives, destruction of livelihoods and property, population displacements and violation of human rights and abuses.
The report added that occurrence of violence were recorded in many states across Nigeria, although more predominantly in the Middle Belt region, as well as Adamawa and Taraba States.
Other issues were challenges in the implementation of effective land management and climate change adaptation policies, and limited enforcement of existing pastoral laws.
Other factors which attributed to the increased cases of herders-farmers conflict were political and economic interests, the erosion of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, and weapons proliferation were.
